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墨書 Inktalez
Zuo Dao's ruthless demeanor instilled fear in the hearts of all the cultivators present. Even the members of Huangshan Hall looked at Zuo Dao with a sense of awe.
Heterodox was his creation, and now it had become a sharp blade in the hands of others. Anyone in his position would find it intolerable. If he couldn't maintain control over the situation, it would be a great joke for everyone to witness.
Three squads, thirty cultivators, were locked under Zuo Dao's gaze, too afraid to move. They could only watch helplessly as Youzheng led the Dan Guard to slaughter the remaining cultivators.
The three squad leaders never expected such an outcome. If it had been any other cultivator, they would have raised their weapons without hesitation, but facing Zuo Dao, they dared not act.
During their training, their leader had instilled in them the belief that Zuo Dao was invincible; it was deeply rooted within them. Not a day went by without their leader's words echoing in their ears.
"The Master is unique; before him, one must either submit or die."
They didn't understand why their leader held such unwavering faith, but because they had already submitted to him, they found themselves devoid of fighting spirit when confronted with Zuo Dao.
If not for the last shred of persistence, they would have long since knelt before him.
"Still not?" Zuo Dao's patience began to wane.
"Though I don't know your intentions this time, I assume your main combat strength consists of squads like yours?"
Zuo Dao sneered.
"I wonder how your people behind you will react when they realize that their proud tactics suddenly backfire. Will they be enraged?"
Upon hearing Zuo Dao's words, an ominous premonition rose within the squad leaders.
"Zhenyue, bring up a squad—ten men."
What Zuo Dao aimed to do now was shatter the last glimmer of hope within them.
Although he did not know what Zuo Dao intended to do, it did not hinder him from executing the command, and a vague idea began to take shape in his mind. Once this thought emerged, it filled his entire being with an irresistible force.
"Yue Qun, you go."
A very young squad emerged from Huangshan Hall, with the leader bearing a faint resemblance to Zhenyue.
Since Zuo Dao's appearance, he had maintained a strong presence, which undoubtedly boosted Zhenyue's confidence. He had already guessed what Zuo Dao was planning and without hesitation sent out his own child.
Looking at Yue Qun beside him, Zuo Dao could easily guess the other's identity.
"You are impressive!"
This statement was directed at Zhenyue. Achieving this required considerable courage and confidence, yet Zhenyue showed no hesitation whatsoever.
"Since you believe in me, I will give you a future."
The changes within Heterodox made Zuo Dao feel uneasy, but they did not bring him down. Perhaps there were other reasons behind it, but the people before him would not stir even a ripple in his heart if they were all killed, for they were not disciples of Heterodox.
What Zuo Dao primarily wanted was to force out the hidden mastermind. The opponent's combat strength was not very strong; their only advantage lay in the squad trained by Heterodox. What he needed to do now was to return their tactics against them.
This time, however, he was even more decisive.
"Concentrate."
Yue Qun and the ten cultivators felt a flash before their eyes as Zuo Dao vanished from in front of them. When they regained their senses, Zuo Dao had already retreated to Zhenyue's side.
"Go!"
Zuo Dao's voice acted like a spell that opened the doors to their hearts, and a massive influx of information surged into their minds as if it were innate.
As Yue Qun and the others looked at their teammates again, a sense of familiarity washed over them, with each person's thoughts surfacing in one another's minds.
In terms of training for the Squad, everyone in Heterodox came from Zuo Dao, but this time, Zuo Dao's methods were more direct and more violent.
"Leave no survivors," Zuo Dao said without even glancing back, recalling Youzheng and the others as he headed towards the Teleportation Array. He had made up his mind; as long as he didn't encounter any Heterodox Cultivators, he would eliminate as many of this Squad as he could.
The next target: Fallen Horse Hall.
He no longer needed to worry about Huangshan Hall; as long as Yue Qun was present, Huangshan Hall would be safe.
Zuo Dao's departure left everyone feeling bewildered. Was he really just leaving like that?
The first to regain composure was Yue Qun.
As Yue Qun's father, Zhenyue sensed the changes in his familiar son.
That change was strength.
This strength wasn't about being above in Realm; Zuo Dao could elevate their power, but he wouldn't do so. Such an approach would only deplete a Cultivator's potential.
This strength lay in mental willpower.
"Kill!"
Yue Qun roared, charging at the enemy like a dragon. The other nine team members followed him with a profound step technique.
To Zhenyue's eyes, the entire Squad's movements appeared ethereal. Even with his Realm, he couldn't discern where the attacks would land.
After Zuo Dao left, the three black-robed Squads also noticed the change. They feared only Zuo Dao, and his departure felt like a mountain had been lifted from their hearts.
They did not know what Zuo Dao had left behind, but they were trained by the Heterodox Cultivator, and in every aspect, they surpassed the Cultivator of Xuming Hall.
When Yue Qun charged, they immediately counterattacked. However, it felt strange to them, as if their identities had been reversed with Yue Qun.
It turned out that they were outnumbering their opponents; now Yue Qun thought to annihilate their three ten-man squads with just one squad of ten.
Pride prevented them from allowing such a thing.
Both sides sprang into action, and these forty individuals fought as if they were hundreds, even thousands. Only when the captains of both sides engaged did they realize how absurdly wrong they were.
Every attack launched by Yue Qun and the Squad struck at their weaknesses. The three squads appeared to Yue Qun like meat on a chopping board—cut and slice however he pleased.
Almost all battle formations of the Heterodox originated from Zuo Dao. He could infinitely amplify the advantages of the Squad while minimizing the weaknesses of their formations.
Yue Qun and his team acted like a sharp knife, ruthlessly carving out pieces of flesh from their enemies. War was bloody; there was no true victory in the traditional sense.
Yet this victory made Huangshan Hall aware that there was still a Cultivator named Zuo Dao within Xuming Hall. Yue Qun completed the task assigned by Zuo Dao almost without getting a drop of blood on his clothes.
The destruction of the three squads left Zhenyue in disbelief. To turn the tide with just one person's strength—such a method...
Everything discovered by Huangshan Hall did not concern Zuo Dao at all; his mood was somewhat poor.
On the way to Fallen Horse Hall, he remained silent. Even if Kun Ru Tao had many questions, he dared not ask.
The atmosphere within the entire team was oppressive. Since he had not participated in the battle, Wan Boxiong knew nothing of what had transpired, but he could tell something was off. He wanted to ask Youzheng, but reconsidered due to the latter's temperament and decided against it.
Along the way, Zuo Dao thought about many things, but he could not find the final answer. Why would the Heterodox's Cultivator help train these squads? Who were these people? What was the true intention behind this incident?
All of this stemmed from the limited information in Zuo Dao's hands. Given enough time, he was confident he could unravel this mystery; however, the current situation did not allow him to do so unless he abandoned all of Xuming Hall.
However, a new problem arose. Abandoning Xuming Hall meant he would lose a significant number of personnel. Although the higher-ups of Xuming Hall had not yet given him an official response, he could sense a drastic change in the attitude of the elders towards him.
The war was unreasonable, occurring without any apparent cause, which made him reflect on his identity as a "pawn." He was now trapped deeper than ever in this situation.
Upon arriving at Fallen Horse Hall, they discovered that the situation there was equally dire. What troubled Xuming Hall even more was that an increasing number of factions were falling into crisis. One faction's Teleportation Array had nearly been seized by the enemy; if not for the experts within that faction fighting to the death or reinforcements arriving just in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The predicament faced by Xuming Hall finally ignited Zuo Dao's fury, benefiting Wan Boxiong and Youzheng's squads first.
Zuo Dao instructed Kun Ru Tao to notify Su Ziqing, bringing in a large quantity of medicinal plants. He directly employed the Dream Seeker technique to enhance Wan and You's squads.
At the same time, he suggested that Kun Ru Tao form a ten-person squad on his own and used the same method to boost their combat power. Subsequently, he made a bold move, allowing each faction to recall a squad for which he would be responsible for training.
At this point, Xuming Hall's Palace Master and Master Situ, along with several elders, had tacitly acknowledged Zuo Dao's authority and tried their best to accommodate his requests. Another reason for this was that the achievements of Huangshan Hall had reached them, increasing their regard for Zuo Dao.
Each squad was assigned to a faction, and Zuo Dao personally crafted dozens of squads that effectively turned around Xuming Hall's fortunes. He also concealed himself deeply; after the battle at Huangshan Hall, all cultivators who had seen him were recalled to Xuming Hall and, under Zuo Dao's instruction, abandoned that faction.
Soon after, entirely new squads from Void Alliance Hall appeared on the battlefield. With Heterodox as a cautionary tale, Zuo Dao once again took action with squads that were irreplicable. Each cultivator within these squads had their minds locked away; even if Xuming Hall attempted to train similar squads on a large scale, it would be impossible.
"Zuo Dao, why not spread this method throughout the hall?" Su Ziqing privately asked him once. However, Zuo Dao's answer was that having these squads was already sufficient for Xuming Hall.
One squad per faction—Zuo Dao would not create any more. If a faction was disbanded, then correspondingly one squad would be reduced. No one knew why he chose to do this.
The missed opportunity for victory left Palace Master and the Elders perplexed; however, given Zuo Dao's status, they could not insist further.
The changes within Xuming Hall caught the attention of various forces. The opponents also noticed something unusual; their once-proud squads were utterly ineffective against those of Xuming Hall. Fortunately, the number of such squads was limited; otherwise, they could have launched a counterattack.
This was precisely the balance Zuo Dao sought—only in this way could he draw his opponents' attention and lead them to misjudge the situation. What he wanted was results; he did not need to witness the process.
In a vast palace somewhere in Void Bright, dozens of figures cloaked in black gathered together. Each person hid deep within their dark robes.
At the top of the grand hall, five shadowy figures flickered in and out of sight, making it impossible to discern their true forms.
"I believe everyone knows the reason for gathering you elders here today," one of the figures spoke, and as he did, the entire hall fell silent, indicating his significant status.
"Recently, our offensive has faced numerous setbacks, resulting in substantial losses. Those who have fallen were our own efforts. I simply want to know where these Squads from Xuming Hall have emerged from."
His voice carried an undeniable authority that instilled a sense of conviction in everyone present.
"Your Highness," one figure stepped forward from among the black-robed individuals below. "We have sent people to investigate, but Void Bright maintains a high level of secrecy regarding these Squads. All we know is that they appeared after the incident at Huangshan Hall."
"Moreover, it is strange that the number of these Squads seems to correlate with the number of halls in Xuming Hall."
"Oh? Even Shadow Elder cannot uncover their origins?" the figure referred to as Your Highness inquired.
"My subordinates have been ineffective; we have already lost several shadow guards over this matter, and the information we obtained is minimal. However, all clues point back to the previous battle at Huangshan."
"In that battle, one hundred and eight Cultivators went in, and none returned alive. Since then, the enemy's Squads have begun to increase."
Shadow Elder was responsible for gathering intelligence among these black-robed individuals, and his subordinates were quite capable; they had never failed to obtain information before. Yet this time, they suffered losses due to the emergence of these Squads.
Your Highness waved his hand dismissively, signaling for him to withdraw. If even Shadow Elder could not gather intelligence, further inquiries would be futile.
"Alright, for this large-scale operation, I hope we do not encounter similar issues again. This matter will be entrusted to Wind and Moon Envoy; we need a strategy quickly. Xuming Hall is currently more focused on self-preservation than offense; we must eliminate them during this period."
"Understood," the black-robed figures responded in unison.
"Additionally, keep an eye on other factions' movements. If anyone attempts to assist Void Bright, eliminate them with full force."
"And Shadow Elder, you must intensify your infiltration efforts to ascertain the origins of their Squads."
"Elder Tiger, I will leave the supplies for Squad to you."
"Elder Long, please prepare the necessary resources for Squad as soon as possible."
Commands flowed from the lips of the prince in an orderly fashion. There was no sign of being affected by previous losses; he exuded a commanding presence.
Once the last command was issued, the Black-Robed Cultivators swiftly exited the grand hall.
"Wind and Moon Envoy, stay behind."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The grand hall suddenly felt empty, with Wind and Moon Envoy standing alone beneath its vast ceiling.
"What do you think about this matter?" The figure referred to as the prince reclined lazily on the Throne.
"Your Highness, this situation seems strange. It appears that our opponent has an extensive understanding of our battle formations. Based on the information we've gathered, our Squad is not even a match for them," Wind and Moon Envoy stood in the hall, yet his presence seemed to fill the entire space.
"Congratulations, Wind and Moon Envoy. It seems your strength has improved again." The prince's sudden remark did not surprise Wind and Moon Envoy.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I owe it all to that person."
"Indeed!" A hint of melancholy seeped into the prince's words.
For a moment, silence enveloped the hall.
"Your Highness, do you have any news of him?" asked one of the five figures above in the hall, her voice light and melodious like a spring warbler.
"Someone reported seeing him outside Voidlight City. Members of Zhu Liu Team had discovered him but when they sent someone to investigate further, he was never found again." The prince fell into a contemplative silence.
"Your Highness, are you suggesting that the Squad from Xuming Hall is under his command?" The Wind and Moon Envoy asked after a brief silence.
"It’s hard not to suspect it; who else in the court has such capability?"
"I had my doubts as well, but I found that those suddenly appearing Squads do not seem to fit his style," the Wind and Moon Envoy replied after some consideration.
"Are you still unaware of his abilities?" The prince said with a hint of exasperation. "If it truly is him, then we are in trouble; you all know his temperament very well."
Upon hearing the prince's words, the Wind and Moon Envoy hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.
"I know what you're thinking." The prince's figure shifted slightly within the Throne. "There is no turning back on this path."
"Indeed!" At this moment, not only Fengyue but even the four figures beside the prince began to sway.
"Enough of this. Regardless of whether it is him or not, we must proceed with this matter; we have suffered for too long."
The prince's words reignited the fighting spirit among them.
"Let’s activate the counter-plan!" The prince finally made up his mind.
"Your Highness, I must reiterate that it is still too early for the counter-plan," the Wind and Moon Envoy said, feeling a bit anxious.
"I know what you're thinking. Let’s decide on this!" At this point, the prince suddenly cast a barrier within the hall, a Dao Sword glimmering faintly.
Hearing this, the Wind and Moon Envoy couldn't help but let out a silent sigh in his heart, filled with either regret or helplessness.
After enduring the blockade from Xuming Hall, the opponent's offensive began to weaken. At the same time, Xuming Hall's allies started to suffer heavy blows from their adversaries.
"Elder Five, we have yet to uncover the whereabouts of the other elders."
Meanwhile, the remaining elders in Xuming Hall gathered once again. The situation in Void Bright had undergone new changes; although things in Xuming Hall were starting to improve, the pressure had only intensified.
"Reporting to the Palace Master, they seem to have vanished from Void Brightness. No matter what method we use, we cannot locate them," Elder Five said helplessly. Just as Xuming Hall had stabilized a bit, he had reached out to various major factions, but there was still no trace of them.
"Let's put this matter aside for now. Three factions have already begun seeking our assistance," Master Situ said, feeling more exhausted than ever. They had no clear understanding of the opponent's background, yet their power was terrifyingly strong.
"Right now, we can only focus on self-preservation; we have no time to spare for anything else," Su Ziqing said from the side, looking troubled.
"Have you asked him?" Master Situ felt a headache coming on at the thought of Zuo Dao. If Zuo Dao could help them train the Squad on a large scale, this situation wouldn't have arisen.
"He still feels the same way." Although Su Ziqing was Zuo Dao's master, he knew that he couldn't approach him with an equal attitude.
"Forget it; his identity is too sensitive," Master Situ shook his head.
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